California real estate transfer tax
California's transfer tax is 0.11%, customarily seller-paid. Here's how it works, what it costs at common price points, and the statute behind it.
California's base Documentary Transfer Tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of value ($0.55 per $500). Many cities add their own transfer tax on top — San Francisco's runs up to 6% on the highest-value sales, and Los Angeles' Measure ULA adds 4–5.5% on sales above ~$5M. By custom the seller pays, though it is negotiable.
What it costs at common prices
| Sale price | State transfer tax |
|---|---|
| $200,000 | $220 |
| $400,000 | $440 |
| $600,000 | $660 |
| $800,000 | $880 |
State-level only; county and city taxes may add to these figures.
Look up your transfer tax
Estimated transfer tax
$2,800
Rate: 0.7% · Customarily seller-paid
- Who customarily pays
- seller
- Statute
- Fla. Stat. § 201.02
Florida levies documentary stamp tax on the deed at $0.70 per $100 of price (0.70%) in every county except Miami-Dade. Miami-Dade charges $0.60 per $100 (0.60%) plus a $0.45/$100 surtax on non-single-family transfers. By custom the seller pays the deed stamps; the buyer pays the separate doc-stamp + intangible tax on the mortgage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the real estate transfer tax in California?
California's transfer tax is 0.11% of the sale price, customarily seller-paid. California's base Documentary Transfer Tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of value ($0.55 per $500). Many cities add their own transfer tax on top — San Francisco's runs up to 6% on the highest-value sales, and Los Angeles' Measure ULA adds 4–5.5% on sales above ~$5M. By custom the seller pays, though it is negotiable.
Who pays the transfer tax in California?
In California the transfer tax is customarily seller-paid, though it's negotiable in the purchase contract.
How is California's transfer tax calculated?
Multiply the sale price by 0.11%. For example, on a $400,000 home that's about $440. California's base Documentary Transfer Tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of value ($0.55 per $500). Many cities add their own transfer tax on top — San Francisco's runs up to 6% on the highest-value sales, and Los Angeles' Measure ULA adds 4–5.5% on sales above ~$5M. By custom the seller pays, though it is negotiable.